Converter.



No. 695,737. Patented Mar. I8, |902.

J. S. KLEIN.

CONVERTER.

Applimmn mea Muy 1a, 1900) (No Model.) y 2 sheetssheet l.

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Patented Mar. I8, `i902.

J. s. KLEIN.

CNVERTER.

(Application med May 1B, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES m: Nomar: Pneus co. Pmnm'nc;4 WASHINGTONA D c.

UNrrnn Sra'rns ATBNT OFFICE.

JOHN S. KLEIN, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 695,737, dated March18, 1902.

Application tiled May 18, 1900. Serial No. 17,114. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. KLEIN, of Oil City, in the county of Venangoand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inConverters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of myimproved converter. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same.Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical section showing the blast-slots,and Fig. lis a horizontal section on the broken line IV IV of Fig. 2.

My invention relates to the class of sideblowing convertersin which theblast is driven horizontally at or slightly above the level of the bathand is designed to prevent accumulation of slag, such as occurs aroundthe twyers heretofore employed, and, further, to facilitate theinspection of the operation and give easy access to the interior of theconverter; also, to improve the construction of the converter andprovide means for easily and quickly heating it preparatory to blowingand for controlling the blast. 4 Heretofore in this class of convertersthe air has passedin through separated twyers builtinto the side wallsof the receptacle. With this construction I have found that the swirlingor eddying action thus induced upon the surface of the bath will causeslag to collect and accumulate at the blowing side between the mouths ofthe twyers. As these accretions form and enlarge they clog up the twyersand injure their action and reduce the area of blast contact-surface onthe bath. I have overcome this difficulty by introducing the blast inthe form of a thin broad sheet, which extends substantially the wholewidth of the blowing side of the converter. The slag and impurities arethus forced to the opposite side and clogging of the twyers prevented.

In the drawings, in which I show the preferred form of my invention, theconverter, which is of the usual form, is provided with a fiat verticalwall 2 at one side. In this wall are built the blast openings or slots3, of which I have shown two at different levels, though it will beunderstood that one or more slots may be used, if desired. These slotsare preferably formed of two flat plates, either of which may beprovided with separating studs or lugs 4, which support the upper plateand hold them apart without materially changing the area of theblast-outlet or interfering with the continuous sheet of air blown in. Imay, however, form these slot-openings by means of special bricks, whichmay extend the entire length of the slots and be spaced apart bysuitable studs. To this flat side of the converter is secured theblast-box 5, having an upper chamber 6 commnicating with the upperblast-slot and a lower chamber 7, separated therefrom by a partition 8and into which the lower slot directly opens. The air for the lowerchamber 7 enters a chamber 9, and thence passes into chamber 7 through aset of openings 10. I prefer to use this indirect connection with theblastslot, since the perforated partition breaks up the enteringcurrents and produces a nearly even pressure throughout the length ofthe slots. A smaller upper chamber 11 is connected with the chamber 6 ina similar manner. At the rear end of each of the chambers 6 and 7 Iprovide a series of swinging doors 12, which are normally held shut bythe pressure within the chambers, but may be easily and quickly openedwhen the blast is turned od, so as to allow insertion of a bar throughthe blast slot or to examine the height or condition of the bath. Toprevent these doors opening when it is desired to tip the converterduring the blow or when emptying, I preferably employ swivel-buttons 13,secured to each door and which may be turned into the positions shown inFigs. 1 and 2 to hold the doors closed. On turning any one of thesebuttons the door may be swung inwardly. The air-supply for the lowerslot is preferably led to the hollow trunnion 14, and thence through apassage in the surrounding casting 15 to the chamber 9. The air-supplyfor the upper slot is led to an upper cavity 16 in the hollow trunnion,which is similarly connected through the main belt with the upperchamber 11.

To facilitate the heating of the converter, I preferably employ a pipe17 for liquid fuel or gas, which extends through the opposite ICO ator.

The advantages of myinvention liow mainly from the use of thesubstantially continuous blast-slot, which prevents the collecting ofslag upon that side of the converter. I also obtain a more even and morerapid action'of the air upon the metal by reason of agreater surface ofthe bath being exposed to the action of the air-blast In tilting theconverter into the position for blowing one of the windbox doors maybeheld open, and the operator can thus stop the converter at the rightpoint and turn on the blast, the door then being closed. If any slag orvitreous impurities obstruct the slots at any time it is only necessaryto shut off the blast and introduce a thin bar through one of the doorsand remove the obstruction. The blast can then be turned on and the doorwill close under the pressure. After the blow has been Well started theholding-buttons are preferably turned to secure the doorsor valves inclosed position in order to prevent a blast of hot air from escaping intilting the converter after the blast is shut off. In blowing thevarious amounts of metal several slots may be used at diiferent heights,and any slot not used may be stopped off for any particular blow.

The converter may be of any desired shape or form, though I prefer onehaving a flat side, as shown, since this gives the longest possibleslots and allows the blast to act upon the entire surface of the bath ina continuous sheet.

The form and arrangement of the blastopenings may be varied Within thescope of my invention, as I consider myself the first to use asubstantially continuous sheet of air, and many other variations may bemade in the form and arrangement of the parts with out departing from myinvention.

I claiml. A sideblowing converter, having at au intermediate part of itsheight a surrounding supporting-band provided with trunnions, saidconverter being provided with a substantially continuous blast slotextending across one side intermediate of its height, continuouslining-plates for the slot, spacers to hold the plates apart, and awind-box covering the slot; substantially as described.

2. A side-blowing converter supported at an intermediate part of itsheight by a surrounding band provided with trunnions, saidconverterhavingarammed lining cutthrough at one side by a substantiallycontinuous slot extending across one side of the converter at a pointintermediate of its height, said slot being arranged to direct air uponthe metal bath at or near its surface to reine it, a metal lining-platefor the slot, and a wind-box covering said slot; substantially asdescribed.

3, A side-blowing converter having a substantial'ly continuous slotacross one side thereof above the bottom, a wind-box covering the slot,a rear cover-plate for the box,

having separated openings therein arranged.

to give access to all parts of the slot, detachable closures for theopenings, and locking mechanism for the closures; substantially asdescribed.

4. A side-blowin g converter having a windbox provided with a rearcover-plate having a hole therein, a swinging inside door for theopening, and a locking device arranged to lock the door in closedposition; substantially as described.

5. A converter having two substantially continuous blast-slots extendingacross one side and having metal linings, a wind-box having twoseparated chambers leading to the two twyers respectively, and separateairchambers extending along each wind-box chamber and connectedtherewith by a series of holes; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN S. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

N. A. NEWTON, A. B. STEEN.

